1950-1959
Yakety Yak

There were significant changes that occurred in women’s clothing styles between the war years of the 1940s and the 1950s. The conservative, tailored, sobriety of the earlier decade gave way to a lush glamour in the later one. This was largely due to the influence of the French couturier Christian Dior whose fashion house helped to put Paris firmly back at the center of the fashion world in the post-war years beginning in 1947 with the introduction of his first collection Corolle, or the botanical term “corolla”, translated as a “circlet of flower petals” in English. Dubbed the “New Look” by Carmel Snow editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar magazine Dior’s silhouettes captured the imaginations of fashionable women. Although there was initial push back from some segments of the market, i.e. those women who preferred shorter skirts and fewer strictures in styling, Dior’s ultra-feminine, wasp-waisted, voluptuous designs came to define the world of women’s fashions for much of the 1950s.
Developed by Guest Curator, James Hanley
Please scroll through the timeline below.
Indicates what can be viewed at The Bryan Museum
Indicates Galveston History
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One-piece Swimsuits
Although two-piece suits continued to be worn on America’s beaches, there was a definite resurgence of the one-piece.
The new-look dresses employed lots of body shaping features. From Boned bustier-style bodices, corseting, and padding to emphasizing the “right” curves. These styles found their way into women’s bathing suits one way or another.
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Jantzen's "Daredevil" style
Jantzen’s new groundbreaking men’s swimsuit was introduced. The style was named the “daredevil”. As seen in this ad, It featured openings between the waist and the legs on each side at the hips. The front and back of the trunks were held together by bands of fabric in a crisscross pattern.
1952 -
1953
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Glimmer for Glamour
This Jantzen Swimwear advertisement not only makes the bling the subject of the copy but also makes shape-insurance a key factor in selecting the suit. The ads and pop-culture during the era influenced women of all ages to look a certain way. These ads focused on convincing women that their suits would transform them.
1954 -
Matching Sets
A far more popular arrival on the beach during the decade was open structures with matching prints of trunks, a shirt, and a light jacket. Manufacturers called these sets by different names. McGregor marketed them as “sun sets”, Catalina called them “sport sets”. Jantzen named them “cabana set” and teamed them up with matching swimwear for women.
1955 -
To Catch a Thief
Have you seen this movie? If you have, you must remember the iconic beach scene depicting what a regular day at the beach on the French Riviera looked like.
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1956
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1957
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Yakety Yak
by The Coasters
1958